Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought
to distance himself from the U.S.-led airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem
Soleimani, telling Security Cabinet ministers on Monday that Israel should
"stay out of it."
“The killing of Soleimani is a U.S. event, not an
Israeli event, and we should stay out of it," Netanyahu said, according to
reports by Axios that cited two ministers who attended the meeting.
The prime minister gave further instructions for
Cabinet officials not to engage the press in commentary about the attack --
which has ramped up the tensions between the U.S. and the Middle East and
escalated the likelihood of a retaliatory attack -- in order to ensure that
Israel's longtime rivals do not get the impression that it was involved in
Thursday's deadly drone strike.
US
ANNOUNCES TRAVEL ALERT FOR ISRAEL, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
The director of Mossad, a branch of the Israeli
Intelligence Community, told ministers they were not expecting any attacks from
Iran because "Israel stayed in a distance from the incident," adding
that the leaders should expect Iran efforts towards retaliation to become more
apparent on Tuesday after the national three-day period of mourning for
Soleimani is over.
A former chief of Iran’s elite Revolutionary
Guards said Sunday the Israeli city of Haifa and Israeli military centers would
be included in Tehran’s retaliation for Soleimani's death, according to
Reuters.
“Iran’s revenge against America for the
assassination of Soleimani will be severe. ... Haifa and Israeli military
centers will be included in the retaliation,” Mohsen Rezaei said in a televised
speech to mourners in Tehran.
Following the attack, where the U.S. launched
three rockets at Baghdad International Airport, killing the head of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force as well as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,
the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization
Forces, and five other people, Netanyahu issued a statement with brief
congratulatory remarks to President Trump, a longstanding ally in the region.
"Qassem Soleimani brought about the death of
many American citizens and many other innocents in recent decades and at
present. Soleimani initiated, planned and carried out many terrorist attacks
throughout the Middle East and beyond," Netanyahu said. “President Trump
is deserving of all esteem for taking determined, strong and quick action. I
would like to reiterate — Israel fully stands alongside the U.S. in the just
struggle for security, peace and self-defense.”
Netanyahu reiterated to Cabinet ministers Monday
that although Israel did not take part in the attack, they support the U.S.'
right to defend itself.
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